Device for manufacturing conical poles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for manufacturing conical poles or conical pole members by roll forming sheet metal wherein said device (1) includes a conveyor path (5) along which sheet metal is transported, and a plurality of groups (10) of forming rolls (11, 12) positioned in succession along the conveyor path (5). In order to facilitate the roll forming and eliminate the risk of bending the sheet metal during the roll forming, the forming rolls (11, 12) in at least one of the groups (10) thereof are mounted on frame members (13) which are pivotable about vertical axes (26) such that the forming rolls (11, 12) can be set to run at angles (α or β) relative to the center line (6) of the conveyor path (5) necessary to achieve a desired conical form of the finished pole or pole member or portions thereof.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for manufacturing a conical pole member by roll-forming sheet metal, comprising: a conveyor path along which said sheet metal is transported; and   a plurality of roll-forming groups provided on either side of a longitudinal center line defined by said conveyor path, each said roll-forming group one one side being displaceable towards and from each other roll-forming group during roll formation and including at least one forming roll pivotably mounted on a frame member, wherein at least first and second of said roll-forming groups on one said side are pivotably mounted about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal center line and at respective desired angular positions so that said first group roll-forms sheet metal conveyed thereto at the first angle relative to said center line, and said second group roll-forms sheet metal conveyed thereto at a second angle relative to said center line, said first angle being variable relative to said second angle.   
     
     
       2. A device for manufacturing conical pole members as claimed in claim 1, wherein all forming rolls set at a common angle on the same side of the center line are pivotably mounted to a common frame member. 
     
     
       3. A device for manufacturing a conical pole member as claimed in claim 1, further comprising manually operable locking means for locking said frame members in said angular positions.